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WWE RAW REPORT
APRIL 14, 2025
SACRAMENTO, CALIF. AT GOLDEN 1 CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON NETFLIX (WORLDWIDE)
REPORT BY WADE KELLER, EDITOR
Commentators: Michael Cole, Pat McAfee
Ring Announcer: Alicia Taylor
Attendance: WrestleTix reports that 14,206 tickets were distributed headed into the event. The arena was set up for 14,287. The arena has a capacity of 19,000 spectators when configured for concerts.
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PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch’s Chris Maitland to review WWE Raw LIVE tonight right after the show ends. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Raw during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Raw. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.
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[HOUR ONE]
-Michael Cole introduced the show as they showed the Las Vegas stadium hosting WrestleMania. Then they showed an aerial view of Sacramento, Calif. Then they showed the arrival of wrestlers appearing the show: Jey Uso, Penta, Finn Balor with the rest of The Judgment Day, C.M. Punk, Seth Rollins, and Paul Heyman. Cole said it’s the final Raw before WrestleMania.
-A highlight package aired of the Jey Uso-Gunther confrontation last week on Raw.
-Gunther made his entrance. He looked to be in a bad mood. Cole stood in the ring. He told Gunther he expected to conduct the interview later, but he’d ask him now about what went on last week with him and Jey. Gunther interrupted and raged that Jey is “full of crap.” The fans nearly drowned him out with boos. Cole addressed the crowd and said he understands they are frustrated. He told Gunther it appeared he was frustrated. Fans chanted “Yeet! Yeet!” Gunther yanked the mic from Cole and said, “Screw your questions, screw Jey Uso, screw everything, and screw everyone who stands with him.” He said he is the greatest gift WWE has ever received. He said he went on to become the greatest Intercontinental Champion of all time. He said he wouldn’t let Jey ruin it all for him.
Gunther encouraged Jey to arrive at WrestleMania with his chest puffed off. He said the bell will ring and he will put him down for the fourth consecutive time. He said people are saying he went too far with Jimmy Uso and lost control. Gunther said he has never lost control in his 37 years of life. He said Jey should thank him he was in control two weeks ago because if he wasn’t, he would have drowned them both in Jimmy’s blood. He said he is looking forward to calling his mother next week and telling her how much he enjoyed beating the hell out of Jey Uso and walking out as still the World Heavyweight Champion.
(Keller’s Analysis: One hell of a heel promo. A really good final message from Gunther. Fans are going to go wild for Jey on Saturday night.)
-They went to Cole and McAfee who reacted. McAfee said it looked like he flipped a switch in front of their eyes there. Cole shifted to commenting on highlights of the Women’s Tag Team Gauntlet match last Friday on Smackdown that Bayley & Lyra Valkyria won.
-Liv Morgan and Raquel Rodriguez made their entrance. [c]
-A vignette aired with Bianca Belair. She said she’s become a different version of herself lately. She said she’s done nothing other than speak up for herself and tell the truth. “You don’t have to like the truth, but you can’t deny it,” she said. She said she’s been through a lot, but she’s still the best and she’ll show it at WrestleMania. “You cannot spell WrestleMania without EST.”
(Keller’s Analysis: That came across unapologetic in certain ways, but also with a tone of contrition that circumstances have brought out a different side of her. It was as bragadocious as she usually is while justifying her actions, yet also not coming across overtly heeling or even portending a heel turn. I think what’s really needed are apologies from Rhea and Belair for how they’re treated Iyo Sky. That’s what fans are interested in.)
(1) LIV MORGAN (w/Raquel Rodriguez) vs. BAYLEY (w/Lyra Valkyria)
Bayley made her entrance. The bell rang 19 minutes into the hour. Liv suplexed Bayley at ringside and then off the ringside steps as they cut to a break at 4:00. [c]
Bayley came back with a Bayley to Belly and made the cover. Rodriguez draped Liv’s boot on the bottom rope to stop the count. Valkyria went after her at ringside, but Rodriguez took her down with a boot to the face. Bayley drove Rodriguez’s face into the mat after she jumped on the ring apron. Liv attacked Bayley with a back stabber. Valkyria prevented Liv from giving her Oblivion finisher to Bayley, who then jackknife pinned Liv.
WINNER: Bayley in 13:00.
-A video package aired on the Seth Rollins-Paul Heyman incident last week ending with Seth saying Heyman now owed him a favor when he stopped just short of stomping him.
-They showed Heyman on his phone backstage.
-Rey Mysterio’s ring entrance took place. [c]
-Cole made more WrestleMania weekend plugs.
-A vignette aired with Rhea Ripley speaking. She said she could see right through Belair. She said she thrives on playing with her emotions and “winding me up like I’m some sort of toy just so you can get what you want and make me seem like I’m the bad guy.” She said when she loses something she loves, she will stop at nothing to get it back. She characterized Iyo Sky’s reaction to being shoved aside as “pouting and moaning.” She said it pulled on the heart strings she had left. She advised her to cherish her time left with the championship. She told Bianca she can’t wait to show her what it feels like when she’s the bad guy. She said she’ll get back what belongs to her.
(Keller’s Analysis: Rhea’s trying to frame her petulant overreactions and repeated disrespectful behavior as justified because she was the victim of Belair supposedly winding her up like a toy. How about Rhea not let herself get so easily wound up, if that’s her perception. This storyline has damaged Ripley so much.)
(2) REY MYSTERIO (w/Dragon Lee, Joaquin Wilde, Cruz Del Toro) vs. JULIUS CREED (w/Chad Gable, Brutus Creed, Ivy Nile)
The bell rang 44 minutes into the hour. Rey went for a 619 a few minutes in, but Julius backdropped him. Rey fought back and climbed to the top rope. Brutus distracted the ref as Gable shoved Rey. Dragon Lee then shoved Gable off the top rope. Everyone at ringside stood on the ring apron. The ref had enough and ordered them all to the back. [c]
Rey went for a sliding spear under the bottom rope toward Julius, but Julius caught him and then lifted him for a vertical suplex. He kept Rey in that position and walked him up the ringside steps. Cole said that was absolutely insane. Creed charged at Rey in the corner, but Rey moved. Rey punched away at Julius. Fans chanted, “This awesome!” As Rey continued on offense, Cole said “Father Time has not caught up with Rey Mysterio.” Rey ducked a charging Julius. El Grande Americano ran to the ringside. Rey tried to unmask him. Julius rolled up Rey from behind and scored a two count. Rey came back with a 619 and a Drop the Dime for the win.
WINNER: Mysterio in 10:00.
-Dragon Lee intervened in a post-match attack against Rey. When El Grande took Lee down with a loaded mask, Cole said someone has to check out that mask before WrestleMania. A clip aired of him loading his mask with a piece of metal at ringside a moment earlier.
[HOUR TWO]
-A vignette aired on the War Raiders. They said New Day took things to a whole new level last week by going after their necks with chairs.
-Jackie Redmond approached New Day as they were fumbling with a game on a phone. She asked about the Raiders saying their match against them will be a war. Kofi said her lack of etiquette was audacious. Kofi said they’ve been at war the whole time and the warpath ends at WrestleMania when they remind everyone they’re the greatest tag team on planet Earth. Xavier said Erik will wish they did take his head off last week by the time they’re done with him at WrestleMania. Jackie turned to the camera and said it sounded like New Day were ready for a war.
-A.J. Styles made his ring entrance. [c]
-A video aired on Triple H vs. Undertaker as part of his series of Hall of Fame headliner videos.
(3) A.J. STYLES vs. KARRION KROSS (w/Scarlett)
The bell rang 7 minutes into the hour. McAfee said Kross believes Styles is representing basically the entire business against Logan Paul and wants him to go back to his evil ways. Cole said Styles isn’t happy that Logan is in WWE via a fast track. Cole said Styles took a two decade journey to WWE. Kross battered Styles, then mocked him. He swept Styles’s legs out from under him as he attempted a rally on the ring apron. Kross then threw Styles over the ringside barricade into the time keepers’ area. They cut to a break at 3:00. [c]
Kross hoisted Styles onto his shoulders and then landed a Final Prayer for a two count. Kross pretended he hurt his angle. When Styles went to the ref to check on him, Kross attacked Styles. Cole said Kross preyed on Styles showing sympathy. Styles fought back right away including a sliding forearm. Kross came back with a DDT. Styles fought back and snapped Kross’s neck over the top rope. He followed with a Phenomenal Forearm for the three count.
WINNER: Styles in 10:00.
-Logan Paul walked out to his theme as Styles was celebrating. Fans booed. Logan told Sacramento to chill since he just came out to congratulate him. He said the fans there weren’t cool enough to live in Los Angeles or smart enough to live in San Francisco. He said he showed the generic California losers why their match at WrestleMania “is gonna cook.” He threw to a video touting his fame and accomplishments. Styles said, “That was a cute little video, smartass.” He told Logan to start WrestleMania early and come to the ring now. Kross came after Styles from behind. When Styles fought him, Logan entered the ring. Styles punched Logan and gave Kross an Impaler. Logan then hit Styles from behind followed by a Pulverizer.
-They showed Heyman waiting in the parking garage looking for the arrival of Roman. [c]
-A clip aired of Steve Austin on Stephanie McMahon’s series on ESPN+.
-They showed Jey backstage. He made his entrance to a cheering crowd. He made his way through the crowd before standing on the announce desk. Jey relished in Gunther showing fear earlier. He said he’ll get him at WrestleMania.
-Cathy Kelley began to interview Bron Breakker about his WrestleMania match. As he said it’s the biggest IC Title match yet, Balor with the rest of The Judgment Day attacked him. Adam Pearce and other officials quickly intervened.
-Penta began his ring entrance. [c]
(4) FINN BALOR vs. PENTA
Penta attacked Balor during his ring entrance. He leaped onto him at ringside and then played to the crowd. When Penta entered the ring, the ref called for the bell 44 minutes into the hour. Penta went on the attack on Balor including a hard chop to Balor’s chest. He shh’d the crowd so everyone could hear it. Balor came back with a basement dropkick for a two count at 2:00. He settled into a chinlock. (Did he think they already cut to a commercial break?) They eventually did go to commercials. [c]
After more back and forth, Penta rallied. Carlito came out and Balor rolled up a distracted Penta for a two count. He followed with a Sling Blade and then a running dropkick in the corner. Balor signaled for his finisher when Breakker’s music played. Cole said, “The unpredictable badass is pissed off.” Breakker attacked Balor. Carlito fled, but then joined Dom in attacking Breakker. Breaker speared both of them at once. “How ’bout them apples!” Cole exclaimed. A seething Breaker then charged at Penta, but Penta kicked him and then sent him through the ropes with a leg scissors that didn’t quite connect fully. Penta then leaped off the top rope onto Don, Carlito, and Breakker at ringside. He returned to the ring to celebrate.
WINNER: Penta via DQ in 12:00.
-A vignette aired with Iyo Sky speaking with English translations on the screen. She said Belair and Ripley are in the midst of a petty fight over wanting what she has. She said she’s done being ignored and forgotten. “You have to go through me to settle this.” She said she’s not afraid to face both of them to defend her title.
-Cole threatened to make an appearance at WrestleMania after-party. More WrestleMania plugs ensued including the line-ups for each night of WrestleMania.
-They again showed Heyman backstage. Punk sat next to him and said he seemed stressed. Punk put his arm around Heyman just as Roman Reigns arrived. Roman shook his head with disgust and then Heyman pursued him, saying, “Tribal Chief! My Tribal Chief!”
-They went to Cole and McAfee. Cole said Reigns hasn’t spoken to Heyman since Heyman agreed to be in Punk’s corner at WrestleMania.
-Reigns made his entrance. [c]
-Heyman was standing in the ring as fans chanted “OTC!” Heyman was smiling and offered Reigns the mic. Reigns bypassed Heyman’s mic and grabbed another one from ringside. He asked fans to acknowledge him. They did. He said the whole world could feel that. He said the whole world understands that they “would never betray your Tribal Chief.” He said some people would betray him, though. He asked Sacramento if they know who that might be. “Wiseman, how could you betray me?” he said. Fans chanted, “You f—ed up!” Reigns encouraged them to do that louder.
Heyman raised his mic, but then lowered it. Reigns asked, “Why?” Heyman said: “My Tribal Chief, it was not a betrayal. I paid back a favor that I owed.” He stressed the “d” in “owed.” Reigns said the way favors work is you usually pay it back yourself. “It feels the only person getting screwed in this whole favor is me,” he said. He said if there’s one thing you know about him, “we ain’t ever going to ask for a favor.” He said they take what they want. He said he doesn’t owe a favor because he never asks for help. “Tell me how I’m supposed to cover the tab for your dumbass favor,” Reigns said. Seth Rollins’s music interrupted.
Seth soaked up fans singing his song. He said the Tribal Chief is finally putting the pieces together, but he’s missing just one little piece. “It’s too little it’s too late,” he said. “I’ve still got to end you at WrestleMania.” He said it’s the right thing to do. He said their match is the biggest and most important Triple Threat match in the history of WrestleMania because the winner will define the future of their industry. Seth said the business is filled with people who only show up when it’s convenient and the others do the dirty work, without whom the business dies. He said they pick up their ball and go home then return and leech off of the success of others.
Seth stared at Reigns. A “C.M. Punk!” chant rang out. “You want the business to die, do ya’?” he asked the audience, looking irked. He said he will sacrifice physical and mental well-being to do what is best for business. “There can be only one and it’s got to be me,” he said.
He said as for that one little piece Reigns hasn’t quite figured out, “favors don’t happen by chance, Roman.” He said favors are a choice. He said he chose not to put Heyman in the hospital last week. He said now Heyman can decide whether he wants to payback that debt. He said Heyman is dishonorable and scum and he expected nothing from him. “Paul Heyman is not in C.M. Punk’s corner at WrestleMania by chance,” he said. “It’s a choice. … He’s not just returning a favor; he’s choosing. And you have to figure out why is he choosing C.M. Punk over you.” Heyman looked at Reigns and said some words to Reigns off mic.
Reigns asked Heyman, “Wiseman, he’s right. You made your choice and I made mine.” Reigns then clotheslined Seth and threw him into the ringpost shoulder-first. Cole said for a moment they felt Seth had talked some sense into Roman, but Roman didn’t want to hear it. Heyman said, “I acknowledge you, my Tribal Chief.” Reigns then shoved Heyman down.
Punk ran out to his music and attacked Reigns. He clotheslined him over the top rope. Punk then walked over to Heyman and checked on him. Heyman was distraught. Reigns re-entered the ring and speared Punk. Seth re-entered the ring and bashed Reigns in the back with a chair. Cole said it was eerily reminiscent of the chair to the back that disintegrated The Shield forever. Seth then gave Reigns a running stomp. McAfee said Seth “is on a mission to save professional wrestling in his mind.” Fans sang Seth’s song as he stood looking at a cowering Heyman in the corner with Reigns and Punk both down on the mat as the show ended.
CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO OUR POST-SHOW PODCAST
JOIN US LIVE ON YOUTUBE TONIGHT FOR THE VIDEO-FORMAT OF OUR LIVE POST-SHOWS…
PWTorch editor Wade Keller is joined by PWTorch’s Chris Maitland to review WWE Raw LIVE tonight right after the show ends. Join us and let us know your thoughts on Raw during the show.
Email our post-show at wadekellerpodcast@gmail.com with your comments and questions about Raw. We’ll read your emails live during the post-show.
If you can’t join us live on YouTube, stream the show on demand later at YouTube or listen or stream later on a podcast app. Subscribe to all of our free podcasts by searching “wade keller” and “pwtorch” in your podcast app of choice including Spotify and Apple Podcasts and most other iOS and Android apps.